At school we prove that we’ve learned by passing tests. We consolidate knowledge that way and move on to the next point on the syllabus. We don’t normally take two tests on one topic and we feel like we are building upwards, from a very consolidated structure.
Life teaches us lessons as well, but the way we are tested is different. We need to fail first, to realize that a test was set; then we understand what we’ve done wrong or a part at least, try another angle, probably fail again and keep on trying different options until we get to a point where because we’ve done it so many times we think it’s OK, job well done, let’s move on. Time passes and something happens, we are being tested again and that’s when we feel that we haven’t learned a single thing, there is no structure, no pyramid, no foundations and we are disappointed with ourselves.
That feeling of disappointment is actually worse than the pain the test causes. Because let’s face it, everything that is felt as a test is emotional. What we try to do is use our intellect to reeducate our emotions, our responses and come up with a different reaction to the same stimulus.
I want to believe (I need to) that we’ve learned, we’ve grown and developed through all this. If not everything’ s just pain.
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